Sustained release intraocular implants and related methods

ABSTRACT

Biocompatible intraocular implants include a steroid and a polymer associated with each other to facilitate release of the steroid into an eye for a period of time greater than about two months. The steroid may be associated with a biodegradable polymer matrix, such as a matrix of a two biodegradable polymers. Or, the steroid may be associated with a polymeric coating having one or more openings effective to permit the steroid to be released into an external environment. The implants may be placed in an eye to treat one or more ocular conditions. The steroid is released from the implant for more than about two months, and may be release for more than several years.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/031,659, filed on Feb. 14, 2008, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/837,356, filed on Apr. 30, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,119,154. The disclosures of U.S. application Ser. Nos. 12/031,659 and 10/837,356 are entirely incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to devices and methods to treat an eye of a patient, and more specifically to intraocular implants that provide extended release of a therapeutic agent to an eye in which the implant is placed.

Steroids, such as the corticosteroid, fluocinolone acetonide (1,4-pregnadien-6α, 9 α-difluoro-11β, 16α, 17, 21-tetrol-3,20-dione 16, 17-acetonide), are usually given topically, systemically, or periocularly, as an injection, to treat uveitis. All three methods of delivery have drawbacks, e.g., topical corticosteroids do not treat diseases in the back on the eye, systemic corticosteroids are often associated with many unwanted side effects, and periocular injections may sometimes cause globe perforation, periocular fibrosis and ptosis.

An alternative that may circumvent the drawbacks of the above-mentioned delivery methods is to use sustained-released drug delivery systems. In 2000, Jaffe et al, reported using compressed pure fluocinolone acetonide pellets coated with silicone and polyvinyl alcohol as a fluocinolone sustained delivery device (Jaffe, G. J. et al., Journal of Ophthalmology and Vision Surgery, Vol 41, No. 11, October 2000). They obtained release rates of 1.9±0.25 μg/day (6 months) and 2.2±0.6 μg/day (45 days) for the 2-mg device and 15-mg device, respectively. The duration of release for the 2-mg and 15-mg device was estimated to be 2.7 and 18.6 years, respectively. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,217,895 and 6,548,078 disclose sustained release implants for delivering a corticosteroid, such as fluocinolone acetonide, to an eye. However, fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implants made by Control Delivery Systems (the assignee of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,217,895 and 6,548,078) were only partially successful and led to the development of cataracts and increased intraocular pressure.

In addition, intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide (KENALOG®) for treatments of non-infectious uveitis, and macular edema due to various retinal diseases has appeared to be safe and effective.

Additional biocompatible implants for placement in the eye have been disclosed in a number of patents, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,521,210; 4,853,224; 4,997,652; 5,164,188; 5,443,505; 5,501,856; 5,766,242; 5,824,072; 5,869,079; 6,074,661; 6,331,313; 6,369,116; and 6,699,493.

It would be advantageous to provide eye implantable drug delivery systems, such as intraocular implants, and methods of using such systems, that are capable of releasing a therapeutic agent at a sustained or controlled rate for extended periods of time and in amounts with few or no negative side effects.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides new drug delivery systems, and methods of using such systems, for extended or sustained drug release into an eye, for example, to achieve one or more desired therapeutic effects. The drug delivery systems are in the form of implants or implant elements that may be placed in an eye. The present systems and methods advantageously provide for extended release times of one or more therapeutic agents. Thus, the patient in whose eye the implant has been placed receives a therapeutic amount of an agent for a long or extended time period without requiring additional administrations of the agent. For example, the patient has a substantially consistent level of therapeutically active agent available for consistent treatment of the eye over a relatively long period of time, for example, on the order of at least about two months, such as between about two and about six months, or even for about one or about two years or longer after receiving an implant. Such extended release times facilitate obtaining successful treatment results.

Intraocular implants in accordance with the disclosure herein comprise a therapeutic component and a drug release sustaining component associated with the therapeutic component. In accordance with the present invention, the therapeutic component comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of, a steroid. The drug release sustaining component is associated with the therapeutic component to sustain release of a therapeutically effective amount of the steroid into an eye in which the implant is placed. The therapeutically effective amount of the steroid is released into the eye for a period of time greater than about two months after the implant is placed in the eye.

In one embodiment, the intraocular implants comprise a steroid and a biodegradable polymer matrix. The steroid is associated with a biodegradable polymer matrix that releases drug, such as by degrading, at a rate effective to sustain release of a therapeutically effective amount of the steroid from the implant for a time greater or longer than about two months from a time the implant is placed in an ocular site or region of an eye. The intraocular implant is biodegradable or bioerodible and provides a sustained release of the steroid in an eye for extended periods of time, such as for more than two months, for example for about three months or more and up to about six months or more.

The biodegradable polymer component of the foregoing implants may be a mixture of biodegradable polymers, wherein at least one of the biodegradable polymers is a polylactic acid or poly(lactide-co-glycolide) polymer having a molecular weight less than 40 kiloDaltons (kD). Additionally or alternatively, the foregoing implants may comprise a first biodegradable polymer having terminal free acid groups, and a different second biodegradable polymer having terminal free acid groups. Furthermore, the foregoing implants may comprise a mixture of different biodegradable polymers, each biodegradable polymer having an inherent viscosity in a range of about 0.16 deciliters/gram (dl/g) to about 0.24 dl/g. Examples of suitable biodegradable polymers include polymers of lactic acid, glycolic acid, and mixtures thereof.

In another embodiment, intraocular implants comprise a therapeutic component that comprises a steroid, and a polymeric outer layer covering the therapeutic component. The polymeric outer layer includes one or more orifices or openings or holes that are effective to allow a liquid to pass into the implant, and to allow the steroid to pass out of the implant. The therapeutic component is provided in a core or interior portion of the implant, and the polymeric outer layer covers or coats the core. The polymeric outer layer may include one or more biodegradable portions. The implant can provide an extended release of the steroid for more or longer than about two months, and for more than about one year, and even for more than about five or about ten years.

The steroid of the implants disclosed herein may be corticosteroids, or other steroids that are effective in treating ocular conditions. One example of a suitable steroid is fluocinolone or fluocinolone acetonide. Another example of a suitable steroid is triamcinolone or triamcinolone acetonide. In addition, the therapeutic component of the present implants may include one or more additional and different therapeutic agents that may be effective in treating an ocular condition.

The implants may be placed in an ocular region to treat a variety of ocular conditions, including conditions that affect an anterior region or posterior region of an eye. For example, the implants may be used to treat many conditions of the eye, including, without limitation, maculopathies and retinal degeneration, uveitis, retinitis, choroiditis, vascular diseases, and exudative diseases, proliferative disorders, infectious disorders, genetic disorders, tumors, trauma, and surgery, retinal tears or holes, and the like.

Kits in accordance with the present invention may comprise one or more of the present implants, and instructions for using the implants. For example, the instructions may explain how to administer the implants to a patient, and types of conditions that may be treated with the implants.

Each and every feature described herein, and each and every combination of two or more of such features, is included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in such a combination are not mutually inconsistent. In addition, any feature or combination of features may be specifically excluded from any embodiment of the present invention.

Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention are set forth in the following description and claims, particularly when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graph showing the cumulative release profiles for biodegradable fluocinolone acetonide containing implants as determined in 0.9% saline at 37 degrees Celsius.

FIG. 2 is a graph similar to FIG. 1 showing the cumulative release profiles for biodegradable fluocinolone acetnonide containing implants with different combinations of biodegradable polymers.

FIG. 3 is a graph similar to FIG. 1 showing the cumulative release profiles for biodegradable triamcinolone acetonide containing implants.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the cumulative release profiles for non-sterile fluocinolone acetonide containing implants having different hole configurations.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the amount of fluocinolone released per day for the implants described in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the cumulative release profiles for sterile fluocinolone acetonide containing implants having different hole configurations.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the amount of fluocinolone released per day for the implants described in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing the cumulative release profiles for non-sterile fluocinolone acetonide containing implants having different hole configurations than those described in FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing the amount of fluocinolone released per day for the implants described in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing the cumulative release profiles for sterile fluocinolone acetonide containing implants having hole configurations similar to those described in FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing the amount of fluocinolone released per day for the implants described in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing the cumulative release profiles for sterile fluocinolone acetonide containing implants having different hole configurations.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing the amount of fluocinolone released per day for the implants described in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a graph showing the cumulative release profiles for non-sterile fluocinolone acetonide containing implants having different hole configurations.

FIG. 15 is a graph showing the amount of fluocinolone released per day for the implants described in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a graph showing the cumulative release profiles for sterile fluocinolone acetonide containing implants described in FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is a graph showing the amount of fluocinolone released per day for the implants described in FIG. 16.

DESCRIPTION

As described herein, controlled and sustained administration of a therapeutic agent through the use of one or more intraocular implants may improve treatment of undesirable ocular conditions. The implants comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable polymeric composition and are formulated to release one or more pharmaceutically active agents, such as steroids, over an extended period of time. The implants are effective to provide a therapeutically effective dosage of the agent or agents directly to a region of the eye to treat one or more undesirable ocular conditions. Thus, with a single administration, therapeutic agents will be made available at the site where they are needed and will be maintained for an extended period of time, rather than subjecting the patient to repeated injections or, in the case of self-administered drops, ineffective treatment with only limited bursts of exposure to the active agent or agents.

An intraocular implant in accordance with the disclosure herein comprises a therapeutic component and a drug release sustaining component associated with the therapeutic component. In accordance with the present invention, the therapeutic component comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of, a steroid. The drug release sustaining component is associated with the therapeutic component to sustain release of a therapeutically effective amount of the steroid into an eye in which the implant is placed. The therapeutic amount of the steroid is released into the eye for a period of time greater than about two months after the implant is placed in the eye.

DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this description, we use the following terms as defined in this section, unless the context of the word indicates a different meaning.

As used herein, an “intraocular implant” refers to a device or element that is structured, sized, or otherwise configured to be placed in an eye. Intraocular implants are generally biocompatible with physiological conditions of an eye and do not cause adverse side effects. Intraocular implants may be placed in an eye without disrupting vision of the eye.

As used herein, a “therapeutic component” refers to a portion of an intraocular implant comprising one or more therapeutic agents or substances used to treat a medical condition of the eye. The therapeutic component may be a discrete region of an intraocular implant, or it may be homogenously distributed throughout the implant. The therapeutic agents of the therapeutic component are typically ophthalmically acceptable, and are provided in a form that does not cause adverse reactions when the implant is placed in an eye.

As used herein, a “drug release sustaining component” refers to a portion of the intraocular implant that is effective to provide a sustained release of the therapeutic agents of the implant. A drug release sustaining component may be a biodegradable polymer matrix, or it may be a coating covering a core region of the implant that comprises a therapeutic component.

As used herein, “associated with” means mixed with, dispersed within, coupled to, covering, or surrounding. With respect to intraocular implants which comprise a therapeutic component associated with a biodegradable polymer matrix, “associated with” specifically excludes biodegradable polymeric coatings that may be provided on or around the matrix.

As used herein, an “ocular region” or “ocular site” refers generally to any area of the eyeball, including the anterior and posterior segment of the eye, and which generally includes, but is not limited to, any functional (e.g., for vision) or structural tissues found in the eyeball, or tissues or cellular layers that partly or completely line the interior or exterior of the eyeball. Specific examples of areas of the eyeball in an ocular region include the anterior chamber, the posterior chamber, the vitreous cavity, the choroid, the suprachoroidal space, the conjunctiva, the subconjunctival space, the episcleral space, the intracorneal space, the epicorneal space, the sclera, the pars plana, surgically-induced avascular regions, the macula, and the retina.

As used herein, an “ocular condition” is a disease, ailment or condition which affects or involves the eye or one of the parts or regions of the eye. Broadly speaking the eye includes the eyeball and the tissues and fluids which constitute the eyeball, the periocular muscles (such as the oblique and rectus muscles) and the portion of the optic nerve which is within or adjacent to the eyeball.

An anterior ocular condition is a disease, ailment or condition which affects or which involves an anterior (i.e. front of the eye) ocular region or site, such as a periocular muscle, an eye lid or an eye ball tissue or fluid which is located anterior to the posterior wall of the lens capsule or ciliary muscles. Thus, an anterior ocular condition primarily affects or involves the conjunctiva, the cornea, the anterior chamber, the iris, the posterior chamber (behind the retina but in front of the posterior wall of the lens capsule), the lens or the lens capsule and blood vessels and nerve which vascularize or innervate an anterior ocular region or site.

Thus, an anterior ocular condition can include a disease, ailment or condition, such as for example, aphakia; pseudophakia; astigmatism; blepharospasm; cataract; conjunctival diseases; conjunctivitis; corneal diseases; corneal ulcer; dry eye syndromes; eyelid diseases; lacrimal apparatus diseases; lacrimal duct obstruction; myopia; presbyopia; pupil disorders; refractive disorders and strabismus. Glaucoma can also be considered to be an anterior ocular condition because a clinical goal of glaucoma treatment can be to reduce a hypertension of aqueous fluid in the anterior chamber of the eye (i.e. reduce intraocular pressure).

A posterior ocular condition is a disease, ailment or condition which primarily affects or involves a posterior ocular region or site such as choroid or sclera (in a position posterior to a plane through the posterior wall of the lens capsule), vitreous, vitreous chamber, retina, optic nerve (i.e. the optic disc), and blood vessels and nerves which vascularize or innervate a posterior ocular region or site.

Thus, a posterior ocular condition can include a disease, ailment or condition, such as for example, acute macular neuroretinopathy; Behcet's disease; choroidal neovascularization; diabetic uveitis; histoplasmosis; infections, such as fungal or viral-caused infections; macular degeneration, such as acute macular degeneration, non-exudative age related macular degeneration and exudative age related macular degeneration; edema, such as macular edema, cystoid macular edema and diabetic macular edema; multifocal choroiditis; ocular trauma which affects a posterior ocular site or location; ocular tumors; retinal disorders, such as central retinal vein occlusion, diabetic retinopathy (including proliferative diabetic retinopathy), proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), retinal arterial occlusive disease, retinal detachment, uveitic retinal disease; sympathetic ophthalmia; Vogt Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome; uveal diffusion; a posterior ocular condition caused by or influenced by an ocular laser treatment; posterior ocular conditions caused by or influenced by a photodynamic therapy, photocoagulation, radiation retinopathy, epiretinal membrane disorders, branch retinal vein occlusion, anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, non-retinopathy diabetic retinal dysfunction, retinitis pigmentosa, and glaucoma. Glaucoma can be considered a posterior ocular condition because the therapeutic goal is to prevent the loss of or reduce the occurrence of loss of vision due to damage to or loss of retinal cells or optic nerve cells (i.e. neuroprotection).

The term “biodegradable polymer” refers to a polymer or polymers which degrade in vivo, and wherein erosion of the polymer or polymers over time occurs concurrently with or subsequent to release of the therapeutic agent. Specifically, hydrogels such as methylcellulose which act to release drug through polymer swelling are specifically excluded from the term “biodegradable polymer”. The terms “biodegradable” and “bioerodible” are equivalent and are used interchangeably herein. A biodegradable polymer may be a homopolymer, a copolymer, or a polymer comprising more than two different polymeric units.

The term “treat”, “treating”, or “treatment” as used herein, refers to reduction or resolution or prevention of an ocular condition, ocular injury or damage, or to promote healing of injured or damaged ocular tissue.

The term “therapeutically effective amount” as used herein, refers to the level or amount of agent needed to treat an ocular condition, or reduce or prevent ocular injury or damage without causing significant negative or adverse side effects to the eye or a region of the eye.

Intraocular implants have been developed which can release drug loads over various' time periods. These implants, which when inserted into an eye, such as the vitreous of an eye, provide therapeutic levels of a steroid for extended periods of time (e.g., for about 2 months or more). The implants disclosed are effective in treating ocular conditions, such as posterior ocular conditions.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an intraocular implant comprises a biodegradable polymer matrix. The biodegradable polymer matrix is one type of a drug release sustaining component. The biodegradable polymer matrix is effective in forming a biodegradable intraocular implant. The biodegradable intraocular implant comprises a steroid associated with the biodegradable polymer matrix. The matrix degrades at a rate effective to sustain release of a therapeutically effective amount of the steroid for a time greater than about two months from the time in which the implant is placed in ocular region or ocular site, such as the vitreous of an eye.

The steroid of the implant may be a corticosteroid. In certain embodiments, the steroid may be a fluocinolone, a triamcinolone, or a mixture of fluocinolone and triamcinolone. In some embodiments, the fluocinolone is provided in the implant as fluocinolone acetonide, and the triamcinolone is provided in the implant as triamcinolone acetonide. Triamcinolone acetonide is publicly available under the tradename, KENALOG®.

The steroid may be in a particulate or powder form and entrapped by the biodegradable polymer matrix. Usually, steroid particles will have an effective average size less than about 3000 nanometers. In certain implants, the particles may have an effective average particle size about an order of magnitude smaller than 3000 nanometers. For example, the particles may have an effective average particle size of less than about 500 nanometers. In additional implants, the particles may have an effective average particle size of less than about 400 nanometers, and in still further embodiments, a size less than about 200 nanometers.

The steroid of the implant is preferably from about 10 to 90% by weight of the implant. More preferably, the steroid is from about 50 to about 80% by weight of the implant. In a preferred embodiment, the steroid comprises about 50% by weight of the implant. In another embodiment, the steroid comprises about 70% by weight of the implant.

Suitable polymeric materials or compositions for use in the implant include those materials which are compatible, that is biocompatible, with the eye so as to cause no substantial interference with the functioning or physiology of the eye. Such materials preferably are at least partially and more preferably substantially completely biodegradable or bioerodible.

Examples of useful polymeric materials include, without limitation, such materials derived from and/or including organic esters and organic ethers, which when degraded result in physiologically acceptable degradation products, including the monomers. Also, polymeric materials derived from and/or including, anhydrides, amides, orthoesters and the like, by themselves or in combination with other monomers, may also find use. The polymeric materials may be addition or condensation polymers, advantageously condensation polymers. The polymeric materials may be cross-linked or non-cross-linked, for example not more than lightly cross-linked, such as less than about 5%, or less than about 1% of the polymeric material being cross-linked. For the most part, besides carbon and hydrogen, the polymers will include at least one of oxygen and nitrogen, advantageously oxygen. The oxygen may be present as oxy, e.g. hydroxy or ether, carbonyl, e.g. non-oxo-carbonyl, such as carboxylic acid ester, and the like. The nitrogen may be present as amide, cyano and amino. The polymers set forth in Heller, Biodegradable Polymers in Controlled Drug Delivery, In: CRC Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, Vol. 1, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. 1987, pp 39-90, which describes encapsulation for controlled drug delivery, may find use in the present implants.

Of additional interest are polymers of hydroxyaliphatic carboxylic acids, either homopolymers or copolymers, and polysaccharides. Polyesters of interest include polymers of D-lactic acid, L-lactic acid, racemic lactic acid, glycolic acid, polycaprolactone, and combinations thereof. Generally, by employing the L-lactate or D-lactate, a slowly eroding polymer or polymeric material is achieved, while erosion is substantially enhanced with the lactate racemate.

Among the useful polysaccharides are, without limitation, calcium alginate, and functionalized celluloses, particularly carboxymethylcellulose esters characterized by being water insoluble, a molecular weight of about 5 kD to 500 kD, for example.

Other polymers of interest include, without limitation, polyvinyl alcohol, polyesters, polyethers and combinations thereof which are biocompatible and may be biodegradable and/or bioerodible.

Some preferred characteristics of the polymers or polymeric materials for use in the present invention may include biocompatibility, compatibility with the therapeutic component, ease of use of the polymer in making the drug delivery systems of the present invention, a half-life in the physiological environment of at least about 6 hours, preferably greater than about one day, not significantly increasing the viscosity of the vitreous, and water insolubility.

The biodegradable polymeric materials which are included to form the matrix are desirably subject to enzymatic or hydrolytic instability. Water soluble polymers may be cross-linked with hydrolytic or biodegradable unstable cross-links to provide useful water insoluble polymers. The degree of stability can be varied widely, depending upon the choice of monomer, whether a homopolymer or copolymer is employed, employing mixtures of polymers, and whether the polymer includes terminal acid groups.

Equally important to controlling the biodegradation of the polymer and hence the extended release profile of the implant is the relative average molecular weight of the polymeric composition employed in the implant. Different molecular weights of the same or different polymeric compositions may be included in the implant to modulate the release profile. In certain implants, the relative average molecular weight of the polymer will range from about 9 to about 60 kD, usually from about 10 to about 54 kD, more usually from about 12 to about 45 kD, and most usually less than about 40 kD.

In some implants, copolymers of glycolic acid and lactic acid are used, where the rate of biodegradation is controlled by the ratio of glycolic acid to lactic acid. The most rapidly degraded copolymer has roughly equal amounts of glycolic acid and lactic acid. Homopolymers, or copolymers having ratios other than equal, are more resistant to degradation. The ratio of glycolic acid to lactic acid will also affect the brittleness of the implant, where a more flexible implant is desirable for larger geometries. The % of polylactic acid in the polylactic acid polyglycolic acid (PLGA) copolymer can be 0-100%, preferably about 15-85%, more preferably about 35-65%. In some implants, a 50/50 PLGA copolymer is used.

The biodegradable polymer matrix of the intraocular implant may comprise a mixture of two or more biodegradable polymers. For example, the implant may comprise a mixture of a first biodegradable polymer and a different second biodegradable polymer. One or more of the biodegradable polymers may have terminal acid groups. In certain implants, the matrix comprises a first biodegradable polymer having terminal acid groups, and a different second biodegradable polymer having terminal acid groups. The first biodegradable polymer may be a poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide). The second biodegradable polymer may be a poly (D,L-lactide).

Release of a drug from an erodible polymer is the consequence of several mechanisms or combinations of mechanisms. Some of these mechanisms include desorption from the implants surface, dissolution, diffusion through porous channels of the hydrated polymer and erosion. Erosion can be bulk or surface or a combination of both. As discussed herein, the matrix of the intraocular implant may release drug at a rate effective to sustain release of a therapeutically effective amount of the steroid for more than three months after implantation into an eye. In certain implants, therapeutic amounts of the steroid are released for more than four months after implantation. For example, an implant may comprise fluocinolone, and the matrix of the implant degrades at a rate effective to sustain release of a therapeutically effective amount of fluocinolone for about three months after being placed in an eye. As another example, the implant may comprise triamcinolone, and the matrix releases drug at a rate effective to sustain release of a therapeutically effective amount of triamcinolone for more than three months, such as from about three months to about six months.

One example of the biodegradable intraocular implant comprises a steroid associated with a biodegradable polymer matrix, which comprises a mixture of different biodegradable polymers. At least one of the biodegradable polymers is a polylactide having a molecular weight less than 40 kD. Such a mixture is effective in sustaining release of a therapeutically effective amount of the steroid for a time period greater than about two months from the time the implant is placed in an eye. In certain embodiments, the polylactide has a molecular weight less than 20 kD. In other embodiments, the polylactide has a molecular weight of about 10 kD. The polylactide may be a poly (D,L-lactide), and the polylactide may include polymers having terminal free acid groups. In one particular embodiment, the matrix of the implant comprises a mixture of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) and polylactide. Each of the poly(lactide-co-glycolide) and polylactide may have terminal free acid groups.

Another example of a biodegradable intraocular implant comprises a steroid associated with a biodegradable polymer matrix, which comprises a mixture of different biodegradable polymers, each biodegradable polymer having an inherent viscosity from about 0.16 dl/g to about 0.24 dl/g. For example, one of the biodegradable polymers may have an inherent viscosity of about 0.2 dl/g. Or, the mixture may comprise two different biodegradable polymers, and each of the biodegradable polymers has an inherent viscosity of about 0.2 dl/g. The inherent viscosities identified above may be determined in 0.1% chloroform at 25° C.

Other implants may include a biodegradable polymer matrix of biodegradable polymers, at least one of the polymers having an inherent viscosity of about 0.25 dl/g to about 0.35 dl/g. Additional implants may comprise a mixture of biodegradable polymers wherein each polymer has an inherent viscosity from about 0.50 dl/g to about 0.70 dl/g.

The release of the steroid from the intraocular implant comprising a biodegradable polymer matrix may include an initial burst of release followed by a gradual increase in the amount of the steroid released, or the release may include an initial delay in release of the steroid followed by an increase in release. When the implant is substantially completely degraded, the percent of the steroid that has been released is about one hundred. Compared to existing implants, the implants disclosed herein do not completely release, or release about 100% of the steroid, until after about two months of being placed in an eye. Thus, the implants exhibit a cumulative release profile that may have a shallower slope, or a lower rate of release, for longer periods of time than existing implants.

It may be desirable to provide a relatively constant rate of release of the steroid from the implant over the life of the implant. For example, it may be desirable for the steroid to be released in amounts from about 0.01 μg to about 2 μg per day for the live of the implant. However, the release rate may change to either increase or decrease depending on the formulation of the biodegradable polymer matrix. In addition, the release profile of the steroid may include one or more linear portions and/or one or more non-linear portions. Preferably, the release rate is greater than zero once the implant has begun to degrade or erode.

The implants may be monolithic, i.e. having the active agent or agents homogenously distributed through the polymeric matrix, or encapsulated, where a reservoir of active agent is encapsulated by the polymeric matrix. Due to ease of manufacture, monolithic implants are usually preferred over encapsulated forms. However, the greater control afforded by the encapsulated, reservoir-type implant may be of benefit in some circumstances, where the therapeutic level of the drug falls within a narrow window. In addition, the therapeutic component, including the steroid, may be distributed in a non-homogenous pattern in the matrix. For example, the implant may include a portion that has a greater concentration of the steroid relative to a second portion of the implant.

In another embodiment of the present invention, an intraocular implant comprises a therapeutic component, including a steroid, and a drug release sustaining component including a coating covering a core region of the implant. The therapeutic component is provided in the core region. The polymeric outer layer may be impermeable to the therapeutic component and ocular fluids. Or, the polymeric outer layer may be initially impermeable to the therapeutic component and ocular fluids, but then may become permeable to the therapeutic component or ocular fluids as the outer layer degrades. Thus, the polymeric outer layer may comprise a polymer such as polytetrafluoroethylene, polyfluorinated ethylenepropylene, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, silicone, or mixtures thereof.

The foregoing implant may be understood to include a reservoir of one or more therapeutic agents, such as a steroid. In certain implants, the steroid may be a corticosteroid, such as fluocinolone or triamcinolone, as discussed above. One example of an implant including a reservoir of a therapeutic agent is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,313.

In some implants, the drug release sustaining component comprises a polymeric outer layer covering the therapeutic component, the outer layer comprises a plurality of openings or holes through which the therapeutic component may pass from the drug delivery system to an external environment of the implant, such as an ocular region of an eye. The holes enable a liquid to enter into the interior of the implant and dissolve the therapeutic agent contained therein. The release of the therapeutic agent from the implant may be influenced by the drug solubility in the liquid, the size of the hole(s), and the number of holes. In certain implants, the hole size and number of holes are effective in providing substantially all of the desired release characteristics of the implant. Thus, additional excipients may not be necessary to achieve the desired results. However, in other implants, excipients may be provided to further augment the release characteristics of the implant.

Various biocompatible substantially impermeable polymeric compositions may be employed in preparing the outer layer of the implant. Some relevant factors to be considered in choosing a polymeric composition include: compatibility of the polymer with the biological environment of the implant, compatibility of the drug with the polymer, ease of manufacture, a half-life in the physiological environment of at least several days, no significant enhancement of the viscosity of the vitreous, and the desired rate of release of the drug. Depending on the relative importance of these characteristics, the compositions can be varied. Several such polymers and their methods of preparation are well-known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,304,765; 4,668,506; 4,959,217; 4,144,317, and 5,824,074, Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology, Vol. 3, published by Interscience Publishers, Inc., New York, latest edition, and Handbook of Common Polymers by Scott, J. R. and Roff, W. J., published by CRC Press, Cleveland, Ohio, latest edition.

The polymers of interest may be homopolymers, copolymers, straight, branched-chain, or cross-linked derivatives. Some exemplary polymers include: polycarbamates or polyureas, cross-linked poly(vinyl acetate) and the like, ethylene-vinyl ester copolymers having an ester content of 4 to 80% such as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer, ethylene-vinyl hexanoate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl propionate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl butyrate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl pentanoate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl trimethyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl diethyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl 3-methyl butanoate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl 3-3-dimethyl butanoate copolymer, and ethylene-vinyl benzoate copolymer, or mixtures thereof.

Additional examples include polymers such as: poly(methylmethacrylate), poly(butylmethacrylate), plasticized poly(vinylchloride), plasticized poly(amides), plasticized nylon, plasticized soft nylon, plasticized poly(ethylene terephthalate), natural rubber, silicone, poly(isoprene), poly(isobutylene), poly(butadiene), poly(ethylene), poly(tetrafluoroethylene), poly(vinylidene chloride), poly(acrylonitrile, cross-linked poly(vinylpyrrolidone), chlorinated poly(ethylene), poly(trifluorochloroethylene), poly(ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene), poly(tetrafluoroethylene), poly(ethylene tetrafluoroethylene), poly(4,4′-isopropylidene diphenylene carbonate), polyurethane, poly(perfluoroalkoxy), poly(vinylidenefluoride), vinylidene chloride-acrylonitrile copolymer, vinyl chloride-diethyl fumarate copolymer, silicone, silicone rubbers (of medical grade such as Silastic® Medical Grade ETR Elastomer Q7-4750 or Dow Corning® MDX 4-4210 Medical Grade Elastomer); and cross-linked copolymers of polydimethylsilane silicone polymers.

Some further examples of polymers include: poly(dimethylsiloxanes), ethylene-propylene rubber, silicone-carbonate copolymers, vinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer, vinyl chloride-acrylonitrile copolymer, vinylidene chloride-acrylonitrile copolymer, poly(olefins), poly(vinyl-olefins), poly(styrene), poly(halo-olefins), poly(vinyls) such as polyvinyl acetate, cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol, cross-linked polyvinyl butyrate, ethylene ethylacrylate copolymer, polyethyl hexylacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetals, plasticized ethylene vinylacetate copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, ethylene vinylchloride copolymer, polyvinyl esters, polyvinylbutyrate, polyvinylformal, poly(acrylate), poly(methacrylate), poly(oxides), poly(esters), poly(amides), and poly(carbonates), or mixtures thereof.

In some aspects, the implants with an outer layer coating with holes may be biodegradable wherein the outer layer degrades after the drug has been released for the desired duration. The biodegradable polymeric compositions may comprise any of the above-identified biodegradable polymers or combinations thereof. In some implants, the polymer is polytetrafluoroethylene, (commercially known as Teflon®), ethyl vinyl alcohol or ethylene vinyl acetate.

The steroid containing implants typically exhibited desirable release times with orifices configured to have a total area of less than 1% of the total surface area of the implant. A substantially cylindrically shaped implant has a first end, a second end, and a body portion between the first end and the second end. Typically, the implants disclosed herein are sealed at the first and second ends. One or more holes are formed in the body portion of the implant. The holes typically have a diameter of at least about 250 μm and less than about 500 μm. For example, holes may have a diameter of about 250 μm, 325 μm, 375 μm, or 500 μm. Smaller holes may be provided in other implants. Typically, two or three holes are provided in the implant outer layer. The holes may be spaced apart by a distance from about 1 mm to about 2 mm for implants having a length of about 7 mm to about 10 mm.

In one steroid-containing implant, the total area of the holes was about 0.311% of the total surface area of the implant. In another steroid-containing implant, the total area of the holes was about 0.9% of the total surface area of the implant. The area of an orifice or hole is determined by the following formula: Area=3.1416×r ²

where r is the radius of the orifice. The area for each orifice may be determined and added together to determine the total orifice area. The tubular implant surface area may be determined by the following formula: Surface area=3.1416×OD×length+2×3.1416r _(od) ²

where OD is the outer diameter of a cross-section of the tubular implant, length is the length of the tubular implant, and r_(od) is the radius of the cross-section of the tubular implant.

In the configurations described above, the implant is capable of releasing the steroid at concentrations less than 2 μg/day. Some implants were capable of releasing the steroid at a concentration of about 0.5 μg/day. These implants are capable of providing therapeutically effective amounts of the steroid to an ocular region of an eye for more than one year, such as for more than five years, and even for about 13 years.

Examples of materials used and methods of making such implants are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,313. Briefly, a coating is formed around a core containing a therapeutic agent. The core may include a therapeutic agent associated with a biodegradable polymer matrix, or the core may be formed by filling a preformed coating, such as a tube.

The therapeutic agent can be deposited in a preformed coating as a dry powder, particles, granules, or as a compressed solid. The therapeutic agent may also be present in a solution. In addition, the core can comprise a mixture of a biodegradable polymer matrix and the therapeutic agent, such as the matrix containing implants described above. The polymers used in the matrix with the therapeutic agent are bio-compatible with body tissues and body fluids and can be biodegradable or substantially insoluble in the body fluids. Any of the above-described biocompatible polymer compositions can be used to prepare the matrix. The amount of polymer in the core may be from about 0% to 80 wt % by weight. These polymers are commercially available and methods for preparing polymer matrices are well-known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,682.

The biocompatible, substantially impermeable outer layer can be obtained by coating the core with a polymeric composition described above. The coat can be applied using organic solvents, and the solvents may then be vacuum stripped from the coat to leave a dry coat. The polymer, at a concentration of from about 10 to about 80 weight percent is dissolved or suspended in an organic solvent at the appropriate temperature, for example for polylactic polymer, between 60 degrees to 90 degrees C. The resulting mixture can be cut, molded, injection molded, extruded, or poured or sprayed onto a pre-formed core into any shape or size for implantation. The spraying can be accomplished in a rotating pan coater or in a fluidized bed coater until the desired coating thickness is achieved.

Alternatively, the core may be dip coated or melt coated. This type of coating is especially useful with waxes and oils. In another embodiment, the core may be compression coated, wherein a suitable polymeric composition may be pressed onto a preformed core. In another aspect, an adhesive coat such as shellac or polyvinyl acetate phthalate (PVAP) is applied to the core prior to applying the impermeable coating in order to improve adhesion of the impermeable coating to the core. These techniques are well-known in the art. See, for example, Handbook of Common Polymers, by J. R. Scott and W. J. Roff, Section 64, (1971) published by CRC Press, Cleveland, Ohio.

When the outer layer is injection molded or extruded into the desired shape, the cavity formed by the outer layer can be then filled with the therapeutic agent composition. Then, the ends are sealed with an end cap. At least one orifice is drilled in the device. Optionally, an orifice is drilled, or preformed in the wall, or an orifice is sealed with a break-off tab that is broken open, or cut open, or the like, at the time of use.

Alternatively, the core-free device may be loaded with therapeutic agent by, for example, immersing the device in a solution comprising the therapeutic agent for a time sufficient for absorption of the therapeutic agent. The device may be equipped with a hollow fiber and the therapeutic agent may be directly loaded into the fiber and the device subsequently sealed. Where the activity of the therapeutic agent will not be compromised, the therapeutic agent-filled device may then be dried or partially dried for storage until use. This method may find particular application where the activity of the therapeutic agent of choice is sensitive to exposure to solvents, heat or other aspects of the conventional solvent-evaporation, molding, extrusion or other methods described above.

The orifice may be formed using any technique known in the art. For instance, the orifice may be made using a needle or other form of boring instrument such as a mechanical drill or a laser to remove a section of the impermeable portion of the device. Alternatively, a specially designed punch tip may be incorporated into the compressing equipment, in order to pierce through the impermeable portion at the point of compaction.

The holes may be made by drilling the appropriate size hole through a wall of the device using a mechanical or laser-based process. In some implants, a digital laser marking system is used to drill the holes. This system allows for an array of apertures to be drilled on both faces of a dosage form simultaneously and at rates suitable for production of dosage forms. The process utilizes a digital laser marking system (for example the DigiMark™ variable marking system, available from Directed Energy, Inc.) to produce an unlimited number of holes through the surface or coating of the dosage form, at rates practically suitable for production of dosage forms.

The steps involved in this laser drilling process are as follows: a digital laser marking system is focused at a laser stage; the dosage form is moved onto the laser stage of the digital laser marking system is pulsed to energize those laser tubes needed to drill the desired apertures along a linear array on the dosage form, the dosage form is moved forward on the laser stage and the digital laser marking system is again pulsed as needed to produce an additional linear array of apertures; the dosage form is then removed from the laser stage.

Orifices and equipment for forming orifices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,845,770; 3,916,899; 4,063,064 and 4,008,864. Orifices formed by leaching are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,200,098 and 4,285,987. Laser drilling machines equipped with photo wave length detecting systems for orienting a device are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,063,064 and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,088,864.

The intraocular implants disclosed herein may have a size of between about 5 μm and about 10 mm, or between about 10 μm and about 1 mm for administration with a needle, greater than 1 mm, or greater than 2 mm, such as 3 mm or up to 10 mm, for administration by surgical implantation. For needle-injected implants, the implants may have any appropriate length so long as the diameter of the implant permits the implant to move through a needle. For example, implants having a length of about 6 mm to about 7 mm have been injected into an eye. The implants administered by way of a needle should have a diameter that is less than the inner diameter of the needle. In certain implants, the diameter is less than about 500 μm. The vitreous chamber in humans is able to accommodate relatively large implants of varying geometries, having lengths of, for example, 1 to 10 mm. The implant may be a cylindrical pellet (e.g., rod) with dimensions of about 2 mm×0.75 mm diameter. Or the implant may be a cylindrical pellet with a length of about 7 mm to about 10 mm, and a diameter of about 0.75 mm to about 1.5 mm.

The implants may also be at least somewhat flexible so as to facilitate both insertion of the implant in the eye, such as in the vitreous, and accommodation of the implant. The total weight of the implant is usually about 250-5000 μg, more preferably about 500-1000 μg. For example, an implant may be about 500 μg, or about 1000 μg. For non-human individuals, the dimensions and total weight of the implant(s) may be larger or smaller, depending on the type of individual. For example, humans have a vitreous volume of approximately 3.8 ml, compared with approximately 30 ml for horses, and approximately 60-100 ml for elephants. An implant sized for use in a human may be scaled up or down accordingly for other animals, for example, about 8 times larger for an implant for a horse, or about, for example, 26 times larger for an implant for an elephant.

Thus, implants can be prepared where the center may be of one material and the surface may have one or more layers of the same or a different composition, where the layers may be cross-linked, or of a different molecular weight, different density or porosity, or the like. For example, where it is desirable to quickly release an initial bolus of drug, the center may be a polylactate coated with a polylactate-polyglycolate copolymer, so as to enhance the rate of initial degradation. Alternatively, the center may be polyvinyl alcohol coated with polylactate, so that upon degradation of the polylactate exterior the center would dissolve and be rapidly washed out of the eye.

The implants, particularly the implants with the steroid associated with a biodegradable polymer matrix, may be of any geometry including fibers, sheets, films, microspheres, spheres, circular discs, plaques and the like. The upper limit for the implant size will be determined by factors such as toleration for the implant, size limitations on insertion, ease of handling, etc. Where sheets or films are employed, the sheets or films will be in the range of at least about 0.5 mm×0.5 mm, usually about 3-10 mm×5-10 mm with a thickness of about 0.1-1.0 mm for ease of handling. Where fibers are employed, the fiber diameter will generally be in the range of about 0.05 to 3 mm and the fiber length will generally be in the range of about 0.5-10 mm. Spheres may be in the range of about 0.5 μm to 4 mm in diameter, with comparable volumes for other shaped particles.

The size and form of the implant can also be used to control the rate of release, period of treatment, and drug concentration at the site of implantation. Larger implants will deliver a proportionately larger dose, but depending on the surface to mass ratio, may have a slower release rate. The particular size and geometry of the implant are chosen to suit the site of implantation.

The proportions of steroid, polymer, and any other modifiers may be empirically determined by formulating several implants with varying proportions. A USP approved method for dissolution or release test can be used to measure the rate of release (USP 23; NF 18 (1995) pp. 1790-1798). For example, using the infinite sink method, a weighed sample of the implant is added to a measured volume of a solution containing 0.9% NaCl in water, where the solution volume will be such that the drug concentration is after release is less than 5% of saturation. The mixture is maintained at 37° C. and stirred slowly to maintain the implants in suspension. The appearance of the dissolved drug as a function of time may be followed by various methods known in the art, such as spectrophotometrically, HPLC, mass spectroscopy, etc. until the absorbance becomes constant or until greater than 90% of the drug has been released.

In addition to the steroid or steroids included in the intraocular implants disclosed herein, the intraocular implants may also include one or more additional ophthalmically acceptable therapeutic agents. For example, the implant may include one or more antihistamines, one or more antibiotics, one or more beta blockers, one or more different corticosteroids, one or more antineoplastic agents, one or more immunosuppressive agents, one or more antiviral agents, one or more antioxidant agents, and mixtures thereof.

Pharmacologic or therapeutic agents which may find use in the present systems, include, without limitation, those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,474,451, columns 4-6 and 4,327,725, columns 7-8.

Examples of antihistamines include, and are not limited to, loratadine, hydroxyzine, diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, brompheniramine, cyproheptadine, terfenadine, clemastine, triprolidine, carbinoxamine, diphenylpyraline, phenindamine, azatadine, tripelennamine, dexchlorpheniramine, dexbrompheniramine, methdilazine, and trimeprazine doxylamine, pheniramine, pyrilamine, chlorcyclizine, thonzylamine, and derivatives thereof.

Examples of antibiotics include without limitation, cefazolin, cephradine, cefaclor, cephapirin, ceftizoxime, cefoperazone, cefotetan, cefutoxime, cefotaxime, cefadroxil, ceftazidime, cephalexin, cephalothin, cefamandole, cefoxitin, cefonicid, ceforanide, ceftriaxone, cefadroxil, cephradine, cefuroxime, ampicillin, amoxicillin, cyclacillin, ampicillin, penicillin G, penicillin V potassium, piperacillin, oxacillin, bacampicillin, cloxacillin, ticarcillin, azlocillin, carbenicillin, methicillin, nafcillin, erythromycin, tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline, aztreonam, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, clindamycin, metronidazole, gentamicin, lincomycin, tobramycin, vancomycin, polymyxin B sulfate, colistimethate, colistin, azithromycin, augmentin, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, and derivatives thereof.

Examples of beta blockers include acebutolol, atenolol, labetalol, metoprolol, propranolol, timolol, and derivatives thereof.

Examples of other corticosteroids include cortisone, prednisolone, fluorometholone, dexamethasone, medrysone, loteprednol, fluazacort, hydrocortisone, prednisone, betamethasone, prednisone, methylprednisolone, triamcinolone hexacetonide, paramethasone acetate, diflorasone, fluocinonide, derivatives thereof, and mixtures thereof.

Examples of antineoplastic agents include adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, actinomycin, bleomycin, daunorubicin, doxorubicin, epirubicin, mitomycin, methotrexate, fluorouracil, carboplatin, carmustine (BCNU), methyl-CCNU, cisplatin, etoposide, interferons, camptothecin and derivatives thereof, phenesterine, taxol and derivatives thereof, taxotere and derivatives thereof, vinblastine, vincristine, tamoxifen, etoposide, piposulfan, cyclophosphamide, and flutamide, and derivatives thereof.

Examples of immunosuppressive agents include cyclosporine, azathioprine, tacrolimus, and derivatives thereof.

Examples of antiviral agents include interferon gamma, zidovudine, amantadine hydrochloride, ribavirin, acyclovir, valacyclovir, dideoxycytidine, phosphonoformic acid, ganciclovir, and derivatives thereof.

Examples of antioxidant agents include ascorbate, alpha-tocopherol, mannitol, reduced glutathione, various carotenoids, cysteine, uric acid, taurine, tyrosine, superoxide dismutase, lutein, zeaxanthin, crytoxanthin, astaxanthin, lycopene, N-acetyl-cysteine, carnosine, gamma-glutamylcysteine, quercetin, lactoferrin, dihydrolipoic acid, citrate, Ginkgo Biloba extract, tea catechins, bilberry extract, vitamins E or esters of vitamin E, retinyl palmitate, and derivatives thereof.

Other therapeutic agents include squalamine, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, alpha agonists, prostamides, prostaglandins, antiparasitics, antifungals, and derivatives thereof.

The amount of active agent or agents employed in the implant, individually or in combination, will vary widely depending on the effective dosage required and the desired rate of release from the implant. Usually the agent will be at least about 1, more usually at least about 10 weight percent of the implant, and usually not more than about 80, more usually not more than about 40 weight percent of the implant.

In addition to the therapeutic component, the intraocular implants disclosed herein may include effective, amounts of buffering agents, preservatives and the like. Suitable water soluble buffering agents include, without limitation, alkali and alkaline earth carbonates, phosphates, bicarbonates, citrates, borates, acetates, succinates and the like, such as sodium phosphate, citrate, borate, acetate, bicarbonate, carbonate and the like. These agents advantageously present in amounts sufficient to maintain a pH of the system of between about 2 to about 9 and more preferably about 4 to about 8. As such the buffering agent may be as much as about 5% by weight of the total implant. Suitable water soluble preservatives include sodium bisulfite, sodium bisulfate, sodium thiosulfate, ascorbate, benzalkonium chloride, chlorobutanol, thimerosal, phenylmercuric acetate, phenylmercuric borate, phenylmercuric nitrate, parabens, methylparaben, polyvinyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, phenylethanol and the like and mixtures thereof. These agents may be present in amounts of from 0.001 to about 5% by weight and preferably 0.01 to about 2% by weight.

In some situations mixtures of implants may be utilized employing the same or different pharmacological agents. In this way, a cocktail of release profiles, giving a biphasic or triphasic release with a single administration is achieved, where the pattern of release may be greatly varied.

Additionally, release modulators such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,079 may be included in the implants. The amount of release modulator employed will be dependent on the desired release profile, the activity of the modulator, and on the release profile of the glucocorticoid in the absence of modulator. Electrolytes such as sodium chloride and potassium chloride may also be included in the implant. Where the buffering agent or enhancer is hydrophilic, it may also act as a release accelerator. Hydrophilic additives act to increase the release rates through faster dissolution of the material surrounding the drug particles, which increases the surface area of the drug exposed, thereby increasing the rate of drug bioerosion. Similarly, a hydrophobic buffering agent or enhancer dissolve more slowly, slowing the exposure of drug particles, and thereby slowing the rate of drug bioerosion.

Various techniques may be employed to produce the implants described herein. Useful techniques include, but are not necessarily limited to, solvent evaporation methods, phase separation methods, interfacial methods, molding methods, injection molding methods, extrusion methods, co-extrusion methods, carver press method, die cutting methods, heat compression, combinations thereof and the like.

Specific methods are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,652. Extrusion methods may be used to avoid the need for solvents in manufacturing. When using extrusion methods, the polymer and drug are chosen so as to be stable at the temperatures required for manufacturing, usually at least about 85 degrees Celsius. Extrusion methods use temperatures of about 25 degrees C. to about 150 degrees C., more preferably about 65 degrees C. to about 130 degrees C. An implant may be produced by bringing the temperature to about 60 degrees C. to about 150 degrees C. for drug/polymer mixing, such as about 130 degrees C., for a time period of about 0 to 1 hour, 0 to 30 minutes, or 5-15 minutes. For example, a time period may be about 10 minutes, preferably about 0 to 5 min. The implants are then extruded at a temperature of about 60 degrees C. to about 130 degrees C., such as about 75 degrees C.

In addition, the implant may be coextruded so that a coating is formed over a core region during the manufacture of the implant.

Compression methods may be used to make the implants, and typically yield implants with faster release rates than extrusion methods. Compression methods may use pressures of about 50-150 psi, more preferably about 70-80 psi, even more preferably about 76 psi, and use temperatures of about 0 degrees C. to about 115 degrees C., more preferably about 25 degrees C.

The implants of the present invention may be inserted into the eye, for example the vitreous chamber of the eye, by a variety of methods, including placement by forceps or by trocar following making a 2-3 mm incision in the sclera. The method of placement may influence the therapeutic component or drug release kinetics. For example, delivering the implant with a trocar may result in placement of the implant deeper within the vitreous than placement by forceps, which may result in the implant being closer to the edge of the vitreous. The location of the implant may influence the concentration gradients of therapeutic component or drug surrounding the element, and thus influence the release rates (e.g., an element placed closer to the edge of the vitreous may result in a slower release rate).

Among the diseases/conditions which can be treated or addressed in accordance with the present invention include, without limitation, the following:

MACULOPATHIES/RETINAL DEGENERATION: Non-Exudative Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD), Exudative Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD), Choroidal Neovascularization, Diabetic Retinopathy, Acute Macular Neuroretinopathy, Central Serous Chorioretinopathy, Cystoid Macular Edema, Diabetic Macular Edema.

UVEITIS/RETINITIS/CHOROIDITIS: Acute Multifocal Placoid Pigment Epitheliopathy, Behcet's Disease, Birdshot Retinochoroidopathy, Infectious (Syphilis, Lyme, Tuberculosis, Toxoplasmosis), Intermediate Uveitis (Pars Planitis), Multifocal Choroiditis, Multiple Evanescent White Dot Syndrome (MEWDS), Ocular Sarcoidosis, Posterior Scleritis, Serpiginous Choroiditis, Subretinal Fibrosis and Uveitis Syndrome, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Syndrome.

VASCULAR DISEASES/EXUDATIVE DISEASES: Retinal Arterial Occlusive Disease, Central Retinal Vein Occlusion, Disseminated Intravascular Coagulopathy, Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion, Hypertensive Fundus Changes, Ocular Ischemic Syndrome, Retinal Arterial Microaneurysms, Coat's Disease, Parafoveal Telangiectasis, Hemi-Retinal Vein Occlusion, Papillophlebitis, Central Retinal Artery Occlusion, Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion, Carotid Artery Disease (CAD), Frosted Branch Angitis, Sickle Cell Retinopathy and other Hemoglobinopathies, Angioid Streaks, Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy, Eales Disease.

TRAUMATIC/SURGICAL: Sympathetic Ophthalmia, Uveitic Retinal Disease, Retinal Detachment, Trauma, Laser, PDT, Photocoagulation, Hypoperfusion During Surgery, Radiation Retinopathy, Bone Marrow Transplant Retinopathy.

PROLIFERATIVE DISORDERS: Proliferative Vitreal Retinopathy and Epiretinal Membranes, Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.

INFECTIOUS DISORDERS: Ocular Histoplasmosis, Ocular Toxocariasis, Presumed Ocular Histoplasmosis Syndrome (PONS), Endophthalmitis, Toxoplasmosis, Retinal Diseases Associated with HIV Infection, Choroidal Disease Associated with HIV Infection, Uveitic Disease Associated with HIV Infection, Viral Retinitis, Acute Retinal Necrosis, Progressive Outer Retinal Necrosis, Fungal Retinal Diseases, Ocular Syphilis, Ocular Tuberculosis, Diffuse Unilateral Subacute Neuroretinitis, Myiasis.

GENETIC DISORDERS: Retinitis Pigmentosa, Systemic Disorders with Associated Retinal Dystrophies, Congenital Stationary Night Blindness, Cone Dystrophies, Stargardt's Disease and Fundus Flavimaculatus, Best's Disease, Pattern Dystrophy of the Retinal Pigmented Epithelium, X-Linked Retinoschisis, Sorsby's Fundus Dystrophy, Benign Concentric Maculopathy, Bietti's Crystalline Dystrophy, pseudoxanthoma elasticum.

RETINAL TEARS/HOLES: Retinal Detachment, Macular Hole, Giant Retinal Tear.

TUMORS: Retinal Disease Associated with Tumors, Congenital Hypertrophy of the RPE, Posterior Uveal Melanoma, Choroidal Hemangioma, Choroidal Osteoma, Choroidal Metastasis, Combined Hamartoma of the Retina and Retinal Pigmented Epithelium, Retinoblastoma, Vasoproliferative Tumors of the Ocular Fundus, Retinal Astrocytoma, Intraocular Lymphoid Tumors.

MISCELLANEOUS: Punctate Inner Choroidopathy, Acute Posterior Multifocal Placoid Pigment Epitheliopathy, Myopic Retinal Degeneration, Acute Retinal Pigment Epithelitis and the like.

In one embodiment, an implant, such as the implants disclosed herein, is administered to a posterior segment of an eye of a human or animal patient, and preferably, a living human or animal. In at least one embodiment, an implant is administered without accessing the subretinal space of the eye. For example, a method of treating a patient may include placing the implant directly into the posterior chamber of the eye. In other embodiments, a method of treating a patient may comprise administering an implant to the patient by at least one of intravitreal injection, subconjunctival injection, sub-tenon injections, retrobulbar injection, and suprachoroidal injection.

In at least one embodiment, a method of treating a posterior ocular condition comprises administering one or more implants containing one or more steroids, as disclosed herein to a patient by at least one of intravitreal injection, subconjunctival injection, sub-tenon injection, retrobulbar injection, and suprachoroidal injection. A syringe apparatus including an appropriately sized needle, for example, a 22 guage needle, a 27 gauge needle or a 30 gauge needle, can be effectively used to inject the composition with the posterior segment of an eye of a human or animal. Repeat injections are often not necessary due to the extended release of the steroid from the implants.

In another aspect of the invention, kits for treating an ocular condition of the eye are provided, comprising: a) a container comprising an extended release implant comprising a therapeutic component including a steroid, such as fluocinolone or triamcinolone, and drug release sustaining component; and b) instructions for use. Instructions may include steps of how to handle the implants, how to insert the implants into an ocular region, and what to expect from using the implants.

Example 1 Manufacture and Testing of Implants Containing Fluocinolone and a Biodegradable Polymer Matrix

Fluocinolone acetonide was combined with a polymer in a stainless steel mortar and mixed using the Turbula shaker set at 96 RPM for 15 minutes. The powder of the fluocinolone and polymer was scraped off the walls of the steel mortar and then mixed again for an additional 15 minutes. The powder blend was heated at temperatures ranging from 110° C. to 160° C., depending on the polymer used, for a total of 30 Minutes, forming a polymer/drug melt. The melt was pelletized, then loaded into the barrel and extruded into filaments, and finally the filaments were cut into about 0.5 mg or about 1 mg size implants. The implants had a weight range from about 450 μg to about 550 μg, or from about 900 μg to about 1100 μg. The 1 mg size implants had a length of about 2 mm and a diameter of about 0.72 mm.

Each implant was placed in a 20 ml screw cap vial with 10 ml of 0.9% saline. The vials were placed in a shaking water bath at 37° C. 9 ml aliquots were removed and replaced with equal volume of fresh media on day 1, 4, 7 and every week thereafter. The in-vitro release testing was performed on each lot of implants in six replicates.

The drug assays were performed by HPLC, consisting of a Waters 2690 Separation Module (or 2696) and Waters 2996 Photodiode Array Detector. A Varian Microsorb-MV™ 100 Å C18 column was used for separation and the detector was set at 254 nm. The mobile phase was (50:50) acetonitrile/0.005M sodium acetate (pH 4.0). The flow rate was 1.00 ml/min and the total run time for was 6 minutes. The release rate was determined by calculating the amount of drug released in a given volume of medium over time in μg/day.

A total of 20 fluocinolone acetonide formulations were prepared, as shown in Table 1. The polymers used were Boehringer Ingelheim Resomers RG755, RG503, R202H, RG502H, and RG502. The inherent viscosities were about 0.6, 0.4, 0.2, 0.2, and 0.2 dl/g, respectively. The average molecular weights were 40000, 28300, 6500, 8400, and 11400 daltons, respectively.

TABLE 1 Fluocinolone Acetonide Formulations Formulation Lot FA (w/w) Polymer I.V. (dl/g) Melt T Extru T (core) Nozzle DDS Size 1 453-98A 40% RG755 0.6 160° C. 122° C.  380 mm 0.5 mg 2 453-98B 40% RG755 0.6 160° C. 122° C.  720 mm 0.5 mg 3 453-99 20% RG755 0.6 160° C. 116° C.  720 mm   1 mg 4 453-100 40% RG503 0.4 150° C. 116° C.  720 mm 0.5 mg 5 453-101 20% RG503 0.4 150° C. 106° C.  720 mm   1 mg 6 453-116 40% R202H 0.2 110° C. 90° C. 720 mm 0.5 mg 7 453-117 40% RG752 0.2 110° C. 90° C. 720 mm 0.5 mg 8 453-118 40% RG502H 0.2 110° C. 84° C. 720 mm 0.5 mg 9 453-119 40% RG502 0.2 110° C. 92° C. 720 mm 0.5 mg 10 453-120 40% (1:1) RG502H/R202H 0.2 110° C. 85° C. 720 mm 0.5 mg 11 453-121 40% (1:1) RG502H/RG752 0.2 110° C. 83° C. 720 mm 0.5 mg 12 453-128 60% (3:1) RG502H/R202H 0.2 110° C. 95° C. 720 mm 0.5 mg 13 453-129 60% (3:1) RG502H/RG752 0.2 110° C. 101° C.  720 mm 0.5 mg 14 453-130 60% (3:1) RG502H/RG502 0.2 110° C. 101° C.  720 mm 0.5 mg 15 453-131 60% (1:1) RG502H/R202H 0.2 110° C. 101° C.  720 mm 0.5 mg 16 453-137 40% (1:2) RG502H/R202H 0.2 110° C. 88° C. 720 mm   1 mg 17 453-138 40% (1:2) RG502H/RG752 0.2 110° C. 85° C. 720 mm   1 mg 18 453-139 40% (1:2) RG502H/RG502 0.2 120° C. 85° C. 720 mm   1 mg 19 453-140 40% (1:2) RG502H/RG503 n.a. 120° C. 99° C. 720 mm   1 mg 20 453-141 40% (1:2) RG502H/RG755 n.a. 120° C. 99° C. 720 mm   1 mg FA = Fluocinolone Acetonide

Of the 20 formulations prepared, 16 were screened for release testing (formulations #1-11 and 16-20). Initially, the release medium was 10 mL phosphate buffer-saline (PBS) with 1 mL replacement at each time point, but almost no release was observed up to three weeks. The release medium was subsequently changed to PBS with 9 mL replacement, but the release was inconsistent and with unacceptably high standard deviations. Finally, the release medium was switched to 0.9% saline with 9 mL replacement at each time point. The release profiles are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Most of the fluocinolone acetonide formulations released the total drug load in approximately 2-3 months. Of the 16 formulations, 11 formulations exhibited release for about two months. Of the 11 formulations, 6 formulations exhibited release for about three months.

In particular, all formulations prepared with Resomer RG755 (453-98A, 453-98B, and 453-99) and RG752 (453-117) showed almost no release after day 4 and their release studies were stopped after 1 month.

Formulations prepared with RG503 (453-100 and 453-101) and RG502 (453-119) showed a delay of 3-4 weeks before releasing 100% between day 49 and day 56.

The formulation prepared with RG502H (453-118) appeared to be the fastest, on day 49.

The formulation prepared with a (1:1) mixture of RG502H and R202H led to the longest release, up to 84 days.

Finally, the formulation prepared with a (1:1) mixture of RG502H and RG752 appeared to be slower than the one prepared with RG502H (453-118) at first, but eventually ended up having complete release at day 49.

Based on these data, it was concluded that a mixture of RG502H and other polymers with slower release will provide a formulation with longer release and relatively closer to zero-order kinetics. One formulation with desirable release properties was a 1:2 mixture of RG502H and R202H, which led to a release of 94% of the fluocinolone after 84 days.

Example 2 Manufacture and Testing of Implants Containing Triamcinolone and a Biodegradable Polymer Matrix

Triamcinolone acetonide was combined with a polymer in a stainless steel mortar and mixed using the Turbula shaker set at 96 RPM for 15 minutes. The powder of the fluocinolone and polymer was scraped off the walls of the steel mortar and then mixed again for an additional 15 minutes. The powder blend was heated at temperatures ranging from 110° C. to 160° C., depending on the polymer used, for a total of 30 minutes, forming a polymer/drug melt. The melt was pelletized, then loaded into the barrel and extruded into filaments, and finally the filaments were cut into about 0.5 mg or about 1 mg size implants. The implants had a weight range from about 450 μg to about 550 μg, or from about 900 μg to about 1100 μg. The 1 mg size implants had a length of about 2 mm and a diameter of about 0.72 mm.

The testing of the triamcinolone implants was performed as described in Example 1.

A total of 16 triamcinolone acetonide formulations were prepared, as shown in Table 2. The polymers used were Boehringer Ingelheim Resomers RG755, RG503, R202H, RG502H, and RG502. The inherent viscosities were 0.6, 0.4, 0.2, 0.2, and 0.2 dl/g, respectively. The average molecular weights were 40000, 28300, 6500, 8400, and 11400 daltons, respectively.

TABLE 2 Triamcinolone Acetonide Formulations Formulation Lot TA (w/w) Polymer I.V. (dl/g) Melt T Extru T (core) Nozzle DDS Size 1 453-96  50% RG755 0.6 160° C. 122° C.  720 mm 1 mg 2 453-97  50% RG503 0.4 150° C. 116° C.  720 mm 1 mg 3 453-112 50% RG502 0.2 110° C. 105° C.  720 mm 1 mg 4 453-113 50% RG502H 0.2 110° C. 90° C. 720 mm 1 mg 5 453-114 50% RG752 0.2 110° C. 95° C. 720 mm 1 mg 6 453-115 50% R202H 0.2 110° C. 96° C. 720 mm 1 mg 7 453-122 50% (1:1) RG502H/RG752 0.2 110° C. 83° C. 720 mm 1 mg 8 453-123 50% (1:1) RG502H/R202H 0.2 110° C. 85° C. 720 mm 1 mg 9 453-125 60% (3:1) RG502H/RG502 0.2 110° C. 92° C. 720 mm 1 mg 10 453-126 60% (3:1) RG502H/R202H 0.2 110° C. 92° C. 720 mm 1 mg 11 453-127 60% (3:1) RG502H/RG752 0.2 110° C. 95° C. 720 mm 1 mg 12 453-132 60% (1:1) RG502H/R202H 0.2 110° C. 108° C.  720 mm 1 mg 13 453-133 50% (1:1) RG502H/RG502 0.2 110° C. 99° C. 720 mm 1 mg 14 453-134 50% (1:1) RG502H/RG755 N/A 110° C. 110° C.  720 mm 1 mg 15 453-135 50% (1:1) RG502H/RG503 N/A 110° C. 110° C.  720 mm 1 mg 16 453-136 50% (3:1) RG502H/RG502 0.2 110° C. 88° C. 720 mm 1 mg TA = Triamcinolone Acetonide

Of the 16 formulations prepared, 8 were screened for release testing (formulations #1-8). The same problem was encountered with the release medium as that of fluocinolone. The release medium was switched to 0.9% saline with 9 mL replacement at each time point. The release profiles are shown in FIG. 3.

Certain triamcinolone acetonide formulations had release periods of about 4-6 months. Of the eight formulations, five formulations exhibited 4 or more months of release, and two formulations exhibited release for more than 5 months.

Formulations prepared with RG755 (453-96), RG752 (453-114) and R202H (453-115) showed essentially zero to very slow release.

The formulation prepared with RG502H (453-113) had the fastest and perhaps smoothest release profile with minimal delay lasting close to 4 months.

The formulation prepared with RG502 (453-112) showed an equally fast release of 4 months, but there was a 2-3 weeks lag time.

The formulation prepared with RG503 (453-97) showed a release longer than 4 months, but it also had 4 weeks lag time.

Similar to the formulations in Example 1, the formulation prepared with a (1:1) mixture of RG502H and R202H lot (453-123) led to a desirable release profile approaching 5 to 6 months. This release profile was the most linear and the longest (>140 days).

Based on the data of Examples 1 and 2, polymer blends appeared to achieve a more desired controlled release rate relative to single polymers. Using a slow degrading poly(D,L-lactide), such as R202H, and mixing it with a fast degrading poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide), such as RG502H, is effective in controlling the release rate of both fluocinolone and triamcinolone acetonide.

Example 3 Manufacture and In Vitro Testing of Implants Containing Fluocinolone and a Polymeric Coating

Silicone tubing (Specialty Silicone Fabricators, Inc, SSF-METN-755, P.N. OP-2) was cut to either 10 mm or 7 mm tubes to form an implant element. Holes of various sizes were drilled (Photomachining, Inc) in the cut tubes. The configuration of each tube was characterized by the number of holes, the diameter of holes and the distance between the holes, as well as the tube length and the sterility of the tube. Each drilled tube was glued on one end with silicone adhesive (Nusil Silicone Technology, MED-1511), and dried for 72 hours at ambient temperature and then packed with fluocinolone acetonide. Each of the 10 mm long tube contained 4 to 5 mg of fluocinolone, while each of the 7 mm long tubes contained 2 to 3 mg of fluocinolone. Finally, the other end of each tube was glued and dried for 72 hours. The implants did not include any additional excipients or release modifiers. A total of 30 different tube configurations were tested and are described in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Fluocinolone Reservoir Delivery Technology Configurations Average Before or After Tube Number of Configuration Lot # # Hole/Diam/Distance Drug Load (μg) γ Sterilization Length Replicates 1 257-172-1 2 hole-250 μm-2 mm 4526 (n = 3) BS 1 cm 3 2 257-172-4 2 hole-500 μm-2 mm 4667 (n = 3) BS 1 cm 3 3 257-172-7 3 hole-250 μm-2 mm 4508 (n = 3) BS 1 cm 3 4 257-172-10 3 hole-500 μm-2 mm 4437 (n = 3) BS 1 cm 3 5 267-33-1 2 hole-250 μm-2 mm 4699 (n = 1) AS 1 cm 1 6 267-33-2 3 hole-250 μm-2 mm 4536 (n = 1) AS 1 cm 1 7 267-33-3 2 hole-500 μm-2 mm 4457 (n = 1) AS 1 cm 1 8 267-33-4 3 hole-500 μm-2 mm 4214 (n = 1) AS 1 cm 1 9 267-140 2 hole-375 μm-2 mm 5228 (n = 3) BS 1 cm 3 10 267-140 2 hole-460 μm-2 mm 4466 (n = 3) BS 1 cm 3 11 267-140 3 hole-325 μm-2 mm 4867 (n = 3) BS 1 cm 3 12 267-140 3 hole-375 μm-2 mm 4566 (n = 3) BS 1 cm 3 13 285-1AS 2 hole-375 μm-2 mm 4663 (n = 3) AS 1 cm 3 14 285-1AS 2 hole-460 μm-2 mm 4806 (n = 3) AS 1 cm 3 15 285-1AS 3 hole-325 μm-2 mm 5168 (n = 3) AS 1 cm 3 16 285-1AS 3 hole-375 μm-2 mm 4981 (n = 3) AS 1 cm 3 17 285-54 2 hole-250 μm-2 mm 2804 (n = 3) AS 0.7 cm   3 18 285-54 2 hole-500 μm-2 mm 2428 (n = 3) AS 0.7 cm   3 19 285-54 3 hole-375 μm-2 mm 3068 (n = 3) AS 0.7 cm   3 20 285-54 3 hole-500 μm-2 mm 2899 (n = 3) AS 0.7 cm   3 21 285-126C 2 hole-250 μm-1 mm 2770 (n = 3) BS 0.7 cm   3 22 285-126C 2 hole-375 μm-1 mm 2591 (n = 3) BS 0.7 cm   3 23 285-126C 2 hole-375 μm-2 mm 3245 (n = 3) BS 0.7 cm   3 24 285-126C 2 hole-500 μm-1 mm 2819 (n = 3) BS 0.7 cm   3 25 285-126C 3 hole-500 μm-1.5 mm 2955 (n = 3) BS 0.7 cm   3 26 285-126D 2 hole-250 μm-1 mm 2615 (n = 3) AS 0.7 cm   3 27 285-126D 2 hole-375 μm-1 mm 2970 (n = 3) AS 0.7 cm   3 28 285-126D 2 hole-375 μm-2 mm 2932 (n = 3) AS 0.7 cm   3 29 285-126D 2 hole-500 μm-1 mm 2619 (n = 3) AS 0.7 cm   3 30 285-126D 3 hole-500 μm-1.5 mm 2498 (n = 3) AS 0.7 cm   3

Each of the 30 implants was placed into a 5 mL centrifuge vial with cap containing 1 mL of phosphate buffer-saline, pH 7.4 (PBS) at 37° C. Total replacement with equal volume of fresh medium was performed on day 1, 4, 7, 14, 28, and every week thereafter. Drug assay was performed on a Waters HPLC system, which included a 2690 (or 2696) Separation Module, and a 2996 Photodiode Array Detector. A Rainin C18, 4.6×100 mm column was used for separation and detector was set at 254 nm. The mobile phase was (50:50) acetonitrile-0.005M NaOAc/HOAc, pH 4.0 with flow rate of 1 mL/min and a total run time of 10 min per sample. Release rates were determined by calculating the amount of drug being released in a given volume of medium over time and expressed in μg/day. The release testing was performed on all 30 configurations in three replicates, except for configurations #5 to 8, for which only one sample of each was tested.

The implants studied varied in the number of holes (2 or 3), hole sizes (250, 325, 375, 460, or 500 μm), distance between the holes (1 mm, 1.5 mm, or 2 mm), length of the implant (1 cm or 0.7 cm), and before or after gamma sterilization, as presented in Table 3.

In general, all 30 implants exhibited an initial burst of drug release on the first day then tapered off to day 7 or later, and finally gradually settled into an equilibrium release range starting after day 14. The first eight configurations were 1 cm in length with drug load of approximately 4.5 mg±0.2 mg in each device, as shown in Table 3. Configurations 1 through 4 were non-sterile, while configurations 5 through 8 were sterile. The cumulative amount released (μg) as a function of time and the amount of release (μg) per day as a function of time are presented in FIGS. 4 through 7.

Configuration #1 (2 hole-250 μm), #2 (2 hole-500 μm), #3 (3 hole-250 μm), and #4 (3 hole-500 μm) gave an average release of 0.63±0.23, 1.72±0.52, 0.94±0.30, and 2.82 μg/day±0.41 μg/day, respectively from day 14 to day 487. These results were compared to their sterile counterparts, configuration #5, #6, #7, and #8, which gave an average release of 0.88, 1.10, 2.48, and 2.84 μg/day, respectively from day 14 to day 448. A good correlation between the number of holes in a configuration and its average daily release was observed for the first four configurations. For example, configuration #3 has 3 holes and configuration #1 has two holes of the same diameter as #3, and configuration #3 released 1½ times more fluocinolone per day than configuration #1. Similar results were obtained with configuration #4 and configuration #2.

In configuration #5 (2 hole-250 μm), #6 (2 hole-500 μm), #7 (3 hole-250 μm), and #8 (3 hole-500 μm), we see approximately a threefold increase in the release rates between configuration #7 and #5, and also between configuration #8 and #6. This was a two-fold increase comparing to the non-sterile counterparts. Configuration #5 (2 holes-250 μm) released an average of 1 μg/day, and configuration #7 (2 holes-500 μm) released an average of 3 μg/day.

Configurations #9 (2 hole-375 μm), #10 (2 hole-460 μm), #11 (3 hole-325 μm), and #12 (3 hole-375 μm) were made and were non-sterile, while configurations 13 through 16 were the sterile counterparts. The cumulative amount released (μg) as a function of time and the amount of release (μg) per day as a function of time are presented in FIGS. 8 through 11. Results from day 14 to day 397 showed an average release of 1.02±0.25, 1.22±0.29, 1.06±0.21, and 1.50±0.39 μg/day for configurations 9, 10, 11, and 12, respectively. Similarly, the data for configurations 13, 14, 15, and 16, which were the sterile counterparts, showed an average release of 1.92±0.23, 2.29±0.33, 1.94±0.18, and 3.15±0.64 μg/day, respectively. Each of the sterile configurations appeared to be releasing twice as fast as its non-sterile counterpart.

Configuration #13 (2 hole-375 μm-2 mm apart) exhibited an average release of 1.92±0.23 μg/day from day 14 through day 376. Likewise, configuration #15 (3 hole-325 μm-2 mm apart) achieved an average release of 1.94±0.18 μg/day from day 14 through day 376. In the same period of time, configurations #14 and #16 achieved an average release of 2.29 μg±0.33 μg/day and 3.15 μg±0.64 μg/day, respectively. Furthermore, configurations #13 and #15 achieved a total release of 16.02%±0.78% and 14.22%±1.13%, respectively, after 376 days. Based on the release rate, the predicted life span of configurations #13 and #15 are 6.4 and 7.24 years, respectively.

Implants were also manufactured to provide a fluocinolone release rate of about 0.5 μg/day. Tubular implants were manufactured to have a length of about 0.7 cm filled with approximately 2.8 mg±0.34 mg of drug and are identified as configurations 17, 18, 19, and 20. The cumulative amount of fluocinolone released (μg) as a function of time and the amount of release (μg) per day as a function of time are presented in FIGS. 12 and 13, respectively.

The results showed an average release of 0.95±0.14, 1.71±0.55, 1.93±0.56, and 2.76±0.27 μg/day, for configurations 17, 18, 19, and 20, respectively, from day 14 through day 329. Since the length of the tube for configurations 17, 18, 19, and 20 was shortened from 1.0 cm to 0.7 cm, approximately 0.15 cm of silicone tubing was removed from both ends. As a result, the holes became much closer to the end of the tube, to the extent that the glue almost touched the circumference of the holes during preparation. It was not clear whether this affected the release profiles. To circumvent this potential problem, configurations with holes much closer to each other toward the center and away from the ends were prepared.

The last ten configurations were 0.7 cm in length with drug load of approximately 2.69 mg±0.36 mg in each device. Configurations 21 through 25 were pre-sterile, while configurations 26 through 30 were sterile. The cumulative amount released (μg) as a function of time and the amount of release (μg) per day as a function of time are presented in FIGS. 14 through 17.

Results from day 14 to day 289 showed an average release of 1.01±0.23, 1.76±0.57, 1.73±0.30, 3.0±1.26, and 3.32±1.06 μg/day for configurations 21, 22, 23, 23, and 25, respectively. Similarly, the data for configurations 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30, which were the sterile counterparts, showed an average release of 0.48±0.03, 0.85±0.09, 0.82±0.08, 1.19±0.15, and 1.97±0.69 μg/day, respectively, from day 14 through day 289. Configuration #26 (2 holes-250 μm-1 mm apart) achieved an average release of 0.5 μg/day (e.g., 0.48±0.03 μg/day from day 14 through day 289) and a total release of 5.76%±0.32% over 289 days or close to 9½ months. Based on its release rate, it has a life span of 13.75 years. In general, the non-sterile configurations are approximately twice as fast as the sterile counterparts.

Example 4 Manufacture and In Vivo Testing of Intraocular Implants Containing Fluocinolone and a Polymer Coating

An in vivo study was conducted with an implant as shown by configuration #29 in Example 3. The implant was manufactured as described in Example 3. Configuration #29 achieved an average release of 1.19±0.15 μg/day, and a total release of 14.28%±1.59% over 289 days when tested in vitro.

The in vivo study was conducted on four animals. The fluocinolone-containing implants were surgically implanted into the posterior segment of the right eye (OD) and left eye (OS) of each animal. The aqueous humor (15-20 μL) and the vitreous humor (150-200 μL) were withdrawn for the first two animals, while the sampling for the remaining two animals was determined by a sampling schedule wherein the sampling days were days 7, 14, 21, 40, and 60, 90, and 120. The results of the in vivo study are shown in Table 4.

TABLE 4 Fluocinolone acetonide Levels in Vitreous Humor of Rabbit Eyes Posterior Segment Fluocinolone (ng/mL) Day 7 14 21 40 60 90 120 8408D 242.00 8408S 88.60 8399D 9.08 6.84 3.06 4.56 10.26 15.18 8399S 44.00 74.20 85.80 83.60 75.60 44.00 8407D 105.80 87.20 135.80 68.60 57.20 8407S 16.64 6.78 14.92 6.62 3.46 8397D 44.00 42.20 32.40 24.20 8397S 40.80 22.60 23.00 24.80 Average 95.92 50.87 45.71 42.40 50.61 36.08 28.14 SD 102.68 47.16 47.13 2.26 50.19 29.46 19.49

The mean vitreous levels of fluocinolone were relatively higher in the first week and then remained at approximately between 30 and 50 ng/mL beyond the second week. Fluocinolone acetonide was not detected at any time point in the anterior chamber of all eyes.

Thus, by way of Examples 3 and 4, implants have been developed that can deliver fluocinolone at a substantially constant release rate of 2 μg/day or 0.5 μg/day for extended periods of time (e.g., for over 1-2 years).

Configuration #29 (2 hole-500 μm-1 mm) was used in the in vivo study and fluocinolone acetonide concentrations were measured between 0.026 μg/mL to 0.096 μg/mL over 120 days in the vitreous, while essentially no level was found in the aqueous humor.

It was noticed that the release profiles differed depending on when the implants were sterilized. For some configurations, the before sterilization release rates are about twice as fast as the after sterilization ones, and in other configurations, the reverse was observed. It is possible that sterilization may change the size of the holes in the implants. Two animals developed cataracts after day 120.

Example 5 Treatment of Uveitis with an Intraocular Implant Containing Fluocinolone Associated with a Biodegradable Polymer Matrix

A 48 year old female presents with posterior uveitis. She complains of sensitivity to light and ocular pain. An implant containing 250 μg of fluocinolone acetonide and 250 μg of a combination of biodegradable polymers (R502H and R202H at a 1:2 ration, as described above in Example 1) is placed in the vitreous of both of the woman's eyes using a trocar. After about 2 days, the woman begins to notice a decrease in ocular pain and light sensitivity. She also notices a decreased blurring of vision, and a decrease in floaters. Substantial relief from the uveitis symptoms is obtained within about 7 days, and persists for about three months.

Example 6 Treatment of Uveitis with an Intraocular Implant Containing Fluocinolone Associated with a Polymeric Coating

A 62 year old male presents with posterior uveitis. An implant containing 250 μg of fluocinolone acetonide with a polymeric coating having two 500 μm diameter holes spaced 1 mm apart is implanted into the vitreous of both of the patient's eyes using a trocar. The patient reports a decrease in pain and improvement in vision within a week after implantation. The improvements persist for about two years. No cataracts develop over that time.

All references, articles, publications and patents and patent applications cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

While this invention has been described with respect to various specific examples and embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and that it can be variously practiced within the scope of the following claims. 

We claim:
 1. A method of treating an ocular condition of a patient, comprising the step of placing an intraocular implant in an eye of the patient to provide a therapeutically effective amount of a steroid to the patient for about one year, wherein said implant comprises a polymeric outer layer covering a core containing a steroid, the polymeric outer layer including a plurality of holes sized to permit the steroid to pass from the implant to an external environment at a rate of less than 2 μg/day for about one year after the implant is placed in an eye of a patient, wherein each of the holes has a diameter of at least about 250 μm and less than about 500 μm.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ocular condition is an inflammation of the eye.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the implant is placed in the posterior of the eye.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the implant is placed in the eye with a trocar.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the implant is placed in the eye with a syringe.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of administering a therapeutic agent in addition to the steroid to the patient.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the ocular condition is uveitis. 